Tire inflation device



Aug. 1l, 1931. s. M. wElsBERG TIRE INFLATION DEVICE Filed May '7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. ll, 1931. s, M, WEISBERG TIRE INFLATION DEVICE Filed May 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIDNEY M. WEISBERG, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AssIGNoa To NATHAN CHIR'E'L- STEIN, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY TIRE INFLATON DEVICE Application filed May 7,

This invention relates to valve constructions for use in inilating pneumatic tires.

The object of this invention is to provide an automatic valve mechanism by means of which pneumatic tires may be automatically inflated by air to a predetermined pressure only, and will automatically operate a signal when said degree of pressure is reached.

A further object is to provide means for reducing the pressure of air below that of the supply line, to any desired degree in a chamber formed in the device or located between the source of supply and the outlet valve of the device, and means for indicating the pressure of air in said chamber.

A further object is to provide means whereby the air may flow directly from the source of supply into said expansion chamber by way of a by-pass valve, to permit an empty tire to be inflated rapidly during the' early part of the filling operation to save time.

Further objects of this invention Will be hereinafter set forth in the following description.

The subject matter of this application is closely related to that set forth in my applications for patent Serial Numbers 469,988 and 510,730 respectively.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification;

Fig. l is a plan View of the top side of the device, shown on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view yof the device on the median line thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the casing on which is mounted the cover of a reducing valve, having a dial calibrated to indicate the air pressure in the expansion chamber of the device, which is the pressure at which the tire is to be inflated, as indicated by a pointer or hand carried by a knob formed integral therewith.

Fig. L is a cross sectional view taken on line i-/l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional view of the inlet end of the reducing valve portion of the device.

l0- indicates the reducing valve casing of the device, preferably made of brass or 1930. Serial N0. 450,521.

aluminum cast in the form substantially as 'i shown, and having an expansion chamber llwhich is closed on the outside by a partition 153-- and on the opposite side by a diaphragm l3-.

A Chamber 14.- is formed between the partition 212- and a cap which is secured to the casing ILO-- by a screw thread 16-. A housing cap l7- is secured to the casing by a screw thread 18-, and clamps the diaphragm l3- to the casing 10- at 19-, as shown. Formed integral with the housing capy17 is a cylindrical extending portion 20*- having a chamber 21- in which a longitudinally extending groove 22*- is formed. A disc 23- is guided by the inner Wall of the chamber 21- and is provided with an extending portion which fits into the groove in sliding relation therewitlnwto prevent the disc 253-' from rotating. The center of the disc is provided with a threaded hole in which a screw 24 lits, the rotation of which moves the disc longitudinally in the chamber 2l-`. A cone-shaped nut 25-is seated in the opening 26- formed in the end of the portion I2O-,y and carries a cylindrical knob 27- held in adjustable relation thereto, at 28, and secured in its adjusted position by a nut 29- which screws on the end of the screw 24ewhich extends thru the nut 25- as shown.

The knob 27- isprovided with a pointer 30- and a projecting finger-rest $1-, all formed integral with the knob 27-. A dial 32- is formed in the surface of the cap 17- and graduated from 20- to 70- to indicate lbs. pressure at which the device is set to control.

A helical spring 33- is interposed between the disc 23- and diaphragm 13-,

the tension of which is controlled by means of the knob 27-. A.vent hole ASilis provided in the cap 17- to admit air to the diaphragm. Holes 35- extend through the partition l2, and a valve-seat 36- is formed on the partition adjacent thereto. A valve 37- is adapted to rest on said seat and control ingress of air to the chamber Ill-'- from the vchamber l4--.

The valve 37 is carried on a valve-stem 38- which extends to and carries a nut 39- which bears against the inner face of the diaphragm. A bearing plate lO-- is carried on the end of the spring 323- and is located opposite the nut 39- as shown.

A helical spring 4l abuts the inner side of the partition 12- at one end and the back of the plate 32)- at its opposite end, to exert a light pressure against the diaphragm 13-.

4%- indicates the air inlet passage formed in the shank 4.3- adapted for an air hose connection. The air flows from the source of supply thru passage 2 3 and passage 4A- ormed in the partition 12, into the chamber M and thru the valve 37- into the expansion chamber l1-, and is maintainedv therein at the pressure at which the valve is set, as indicated by the pointer $0- on the dial 39,-.

10- indicates a casing extension, preferably formed integral with the reducing valve casing 10-, and a cylinder L.l5-- is formed therein. A valve seat 46- is-ormed at one end of said cylinder, and a valve 47- is adapted to rest in said seat and close communication between the expansion chainber 11.- and cylinder 5 1 A plug 48- screws into the threaded opening 49- ormed in the casing 10-, the central median line of which is in alignment with the central line thru the cylinder 45- and said opening is large enough to pass the valve 47- therethru in the operation of assembling. A helical spring 50 is interposed between the back of the valve i7- andinner end or' the plug 48-- A piston 51F is iitted to slide in the cylinder 45, and is provided with a smooth central bore 52 thru which extends a valve stem 53- of the valve 4l"- in close sliding relation.

The piston is provided with a restricted air passage 54 of less area than that of the air passage thru the valve in the tire to be inflated. A passage 55 for air is also formed in the piston and is controlled by a' valve 56- normally held to its seat by a spring 57- which is interposed between the end of the valve-stem and the opposite side of the piston as shown.

The piston overlies and normally closes a passage.58- leading from the cylinder to a whistle 52)- carriedon the under side of the casing extension lO-. A helical spring 60- is located between the piston and end wall VGlof the cylinder. The piston is provided with a tubular extension 51- which normally abuts the tace of the valve 47- when said valve is closed, and a similar tubular extension 62- limits the movement of the piston in its movement toward the wall 61- so that the opening 58- is not uncovered by the piston when moving in this direction. A ring 63- is formed integral with the casing 10'- by means of which it may be suspended Jfrom a hook or other support when not in use.

An outlet nozzle comprising a nipple 64eis connected with and disposed at an angle to the casing 10- as shown, by a screw joint 65, and is provided with a valve seat 66- of soft rubber, which is held in position by the nut 67.

The valve comprises a metal disc (S8- having one or more holes 65)- extending therethru, which are closed by the rubber seat when the valve is in its closed position as shown, and a stem extends therefrom to open the valve 7 1- in the tire being inflated, in the usual manner.

Formed integral with the valve 68- is a conically shaped member 70'- having a cylindrical projecting guide stem 7l- Jformed integral therewith which slides in a bore 72.

A spring 723- bears against the top end of the stem T1- to hold the 'valve 638- to its seat. Below the cone 70- the sides are formed cylindrical as shown. The valvestem V53- eXtends thru the end wall (3linto the chamber 74kand abuts the upper end of the cone as shown.

The end of the stem 53- is guided in a bore 7 5- formed in the end wall 6l-, and holes 76- lead thru the end wall from the cylinder 45* to the chamber 74-.

I wish to here state that the reason for using the piston 5l and valve 47- with combined, to properly inflate a tire, to the 4 proper degree, and in some cases l prefer to so construct this device.

The means provided for adjusting the pressure on the diaphragm comprising the spring S3- and knob 27- is important, since the air pressure in the chamber 1.1- may be determined by a pressure gage known to be correct, and the knob 2?- can then be loosened from the cone 25- and ,their complementary springs, etc., is solely I` set so that the pointer 30- indicates the corresponding pressure on the dial 3;--

76- indicates a passage for air leading from the main air supply line into the expansion chamber ll-, and a valve T7- controls said passage. rlhe valve f7- is carried on a valve-stem 78- which extends thru the casing at 79- and abuts a manually operated lever 80- which is hinged to the casing at 8l. A helical spring 552- is carried on the valve-rod 78- and abuts the ring 82'- carried on the rod, at one end, and the casing at its opposite end, to hold the valvel 77- to its seat.

By pressing on the lever, the valve is opened to pass the air thru to the tire in the process of inliating the same, and by reason of the higher pressure obtained in the expansion chamber, the time required to fill the tire to a pressure below the maximum, is reduced.

The operation is as follows: P

Assuming the piston and valve irto be removed from the casing, and the opening 58- closed: air at high pres-sure from a source of supply is admitted to chamber lllby way of passages L2- and lf-l-, and flows thru the valve 37- into the expansion chamber lland therefrom to the outlet valve $8-, filling the chambers with air at the pressure as governed by the reducing valve mechanism.'

l/Vhen the pressure in tl echaniber 1K1- is high enough to move the diaphragm 1.?)- far enough against the action of the spring 33-, the valve 37- is closed. Assuming the pressure is to be maintained at 5.0 lbs. per square inch gage pressure as indicated on the dial $2-, and the nozzle valve is opened to admit air into the tire thru the valve located therein, the air would flow from the chamber llinto the tire until the pressure of air in the tire equalled that of the pressure in the chamber lland could go no higher, due to the control of the reducing' valve diaphragm.

When the nozzle is removed from the tire, the valve 68- vvill close, and air will lill the chambers at a pressure of 50 pounds. We will now assume that the piston and valve flT- together with their auxiliary parts are placed in the casing and adjusted as illustrated in the drawings: the air will flow into the chamber llas previously described, but cannot pass the valve i'- until it is manually opened by movement transmitted froml the stem 70- thru cone 7 O- and valve stein 53- in the act of admitting air to the tire thru the tire valve, in the usual manner.

lt must be remembered that the area thru the tire valve located in the tire valve is very small, and that the area thru Jthe air passages 54- and combined, is less than that of the valve tire passage, and that the pressure of the spring GQ- is just suficient to move the piston to its extreme position adjacent the valve '-l'- when the air pressure in the tire is equal to the .pressure in the expansion chamber, the spring GQ- the-n forcing the piston projection 51 against the valve i7- while held in its ppen position, will slide past tne opening O8-, ana air will pass therethru and blow the whistle.

The use of the check valve 56- is to permit a larger volume of air to. pass thru during the early portion of the tire inflation period, to reduce the time required in filling but this valve can be dispensed with if desired, and the area of the passage reduced as hereinbefore set forth.

central bore l.thru the piston bein-g closed;

-this permits the use of the whistle, as the opera-tion is the same, except that the said valve 47- gives additional security against leakage.

It must also be remembered that the construction herein illustrated is but about 1/3 as large as shown in the drawings. It is Iobvious that the details of construction may be changed without departing from trie invention disclosed and l therefore do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction shown, but may malte such changes as may be necessary or desirable within the scope of my invention as defined by the claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new:

l. A construction for inllating a vehicle tire, a casing having an expansion-chamber for air, reducing-valve mechanism governing the admission of air to said chamber, a nozzle having an outlet, said casing having a passage leading from said expansionchainber to said out-let, an opening in one side of said passage leading to the atmosphere, a piston located in said passage and normally closing said opening, a spring interposed between said piston and an end wall of said passage, said piston having a restricted opening therethrough of less area than that through the valve of the vehicle tire; said piston also having a check-valve controlled passage, said check-valve being normally closed but adapted to open when the air pressure is greater on the inlet side of the piston than on the outlet side thereof.

2. A construction for intlating a vehicle tire, comprising a casing having an expansion-cliamber for air, reducing-valve mechanism governing the admission of air to said chamber, a nozzle having an outlet, a cylindrical passage in said casing having a valveseat formed at one end thereof, a valve for said passage having a valve-stemA which extends therethrough, mens carried by the nozzle adapted to abut the end of said valvestem to open said valve, a piston in said cylindrical passage having a central bore through Which said valve-stem slides in close relation, said piston having a restricted opening therethrough, said cylindrical passage having an outlet in one side thereof opening to the atmosphere, and a helical spring interposed between said piston and an end wall of said passage to hold the pirtoii in its normal position over said opening.

II u

3. A construction for iniating a Vehicle tire, comprising a Casing having an expansion-chamber for air, 1'edueing-\f'alve lnechanisin governing the admission of air to saicl chamber, a nozzle having an outlet, said casing having a passage leading from said expansion-ehalnher to the outlet7 an opening in one side of said passage leading to the atmosphere, a piston located in said passage and normally Closing said opening, a spring interposed between said piston and an end wall of said passage, said piston having a restricted opening therethrough of less area than that through the Valve of the Vehicle tire.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

SIDNEY M. VEISBERG. 

